Twisting fixture for multi-conductor cable and the like

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for accurately twisting multiple conductors to a predetermined extent on a regular production basis is described. The conductors may be initially aligned in flat shapes or may have non-flat complex shapes, at the ends thereof, or intermediate the ends thereof. The invention comprises a first means for stably holding one end of multiple conductors which are to be twisted, stably holding the other end of the cable or conductors which are to be twisted within a rotatable, spring-loaded, second clamping means, and an indexing means mounted on the rotatable clamping means which precisely indicates the number of turns or fractional turns of the rotatable clamping means and thereby indicates the number of twists made in the cable held by the rotatable clamping means. The indexing means is preferred to be of an automatic indexing nature rather than a visual means for greater accuracy and ease of use of the twisting apparatus. In those instances where the cable, a portion of which is to be twisted, has a complex terminal end, a die shoe or die member is constructed as as to correspond with the shape of the complex terminal end; and the complex terminal end is then clamped so that the complex terminal end is not deformed in any way during the twisting operation. In this manner, close tolerances on complex shapes can be readily obtained, i.e., tolerances of the order of + OR - 1/100 of an inch and less are readily maintained - while twisting a portion of the cable or other multiple conductors accurately reproducibly and quickly on a regular production basis.

United States Patent 1191 Lang et a1.

[ TWISTING FIXTURE FOR MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLE AND THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Donald D. Lang; Roger Lang, both of Garden Grove, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Spectra-Strip Corporation, Garden Grove, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1973 g [21] Appl. No.: 326,284

Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l. Morley Drucker [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for accurately twisting multiple conductors to a predetermined extent on a regular production basis is described. The conductors may be initially aligned in flat shapes or may have non-flat complex shapes, at the ends thereof, or intermediate the ends thereof.

The invention comprises a first means for stably holding one end of multiple conductors which are to be twisted, stably holding the other end of the cable or conductors which are to be twisted within a rotatable, spring-loaded, second clamping means, and an indexing means mounted on the rotatable clamping means which precisely indicates the number of turns or fractional turns of the rotatable clamping means and thereby indicates the number of twists made in the cable held by the'rotatable clamping means. The indexing means is preferred to be of an automatic indexing nature rather than a visual means for greater accuracy and ease of use of the twisting apparatus.

In those instances where the cable, a portion of which is to be twisted, has a complex terminal end, a die shoe or die member is constructed as as to correspond with the shape of the complex terminal end; and the complex terminal end is then clamped so that the complex terminal end is not deformed in any way during the twisting. operation. In this manner, close tolerances on complex shapes can be readily obtained, i.e., tolerances of the order of i l/ 100 of an inch and less are readily maintained while twisting a portion of the cable or other multiple conductors accurately reproducibly and quickly on a regular production basis.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TWISTING FIXTURE FOR MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLE AND THE LIKE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to an apparatus for accurately twisting multi-conductor cable, laminated cable multiple conductors or the like, to a predetermined extent on a regular production basis. The multiconductor cable or conductors may be initially flat, or may have non-flat complex shapes, at the ends thereof, or intermediate the ends thereof. Where multiconductor cable is to be twisted, that portion of the cable to be twisted is usually separated into the individual, insulated, conductors prior to the twisting operation. 3

The invention comprises a first means for stably holding one end of the cable or conductors which are to be twisted, stably holding the other end of the cable or conductors which are to be twisted within a rotatable, spring-loaded second clamping means, and an indexing means mounted on the rotatable clamping means which precisely indicates the number of turns or fractional turns of the rotatable clamping means and thereby indicates the number of twists made in the cable.

The indexing means is preferred to be of an automatic indexing nature rather than a visual means, for greater accuracy and ease of use of the twisting apparatus.

In those instances where the cable, a portion of which is to be twisted, has a complex terminal end, a die shoe or die member is constructed so as to correspond with the shape of the complex terminal end; and the complex terminal end is then clamped so that the complex terminal end is not deformed in any way during the twisting operation. In this manner, close tolerances on complex shapes can be readily obtained, i.e., tolerances of the order of :t 1/100 of an inch and less are readily maintained while twisting a portion of the cable or other multiple conductors accurately, reproducibly and quickly on a regular production basis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the right hand portion of FIG. 1 showing the cable clamps in open position; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a cable having a portion thereof .twisted in accordance with the concepts of our invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be illustrated with reference to the twisting of a portion of a multi-conductor cable 90, having the final complex shape shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The complex shape of cable of FIG. 5 is utilized, for example, where multiple electrical interconnections are desired between closely located moving parts, the right hand portion 92 of cable 90 being connected to a first part and the left hand portion being connected to a second part moving with respect tosaid first part. The individual insulated conductors of the cable 90 are bound together, in cable form, as described in said US. Pat. No. 3,005,739, except in the area of the cable 90 where twisting is to take place, which area is designated generally by thenumeral 96. In the area 96, the individual conductors of the cable 90 are preferably not bound, in order to facilitate their twisting.

The complex right hand portion 92 of cable 90 has dimensions which are to be maintained within close tolerances of i 1/100 of an inch or less, during the twisting operation. In order to accomplish this, it is preferred to form the complex shape 92 by first accurately stripping theinsulation from cable 90, along line RR' by the method and means described and illustrated in US. Pat. application of ROGER C. LANG, Ser. No. 326,285 filed concurrently herewith, entitled .lIG AP- PARATUS FOR USE IN STRIPPING INSULATION FROM FLAT MULTI-CONDUCTOR CABLE" (Docket No. 262 of the law offices of I. Morley Drucker) and then compressing and cutting the stripped cable to very precisely form the terminals 94- of cable 90 by the method and means described and ilv lustrated in US. Patent application of Donald D. Lang, Ser. NO. 326,286 filed concurrently herewith, entitled APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSION AND COLD- WELDING OF STRIPPED ENDS OF MULTI- CONDUCTOR CABLE (Docket No. 260 of the law offices of I'. Morley Drucker).

linear without any jogs or twists formed therein. The formation of the angulation in the cable 90 in the right hand portion92 thereof and the twisting thereof is accomplished by the apparatusof this invention, designated generally by the numeral 10.

The apparatuslfl has a metal base plate 12, and a first vertically upstanding metal block or pillar l4 affixed to the right end of said base plate 12 by screws or the like (not shown). The right pillar 14 carries appropriately shaped die members and associated clamping means for accurately aligning and clamping end portion 92 of cable 90, while pillar 16 carries a second rotatable clamping means and associated indexing means for twisting cable 90.

Specifically, a first metal die plate or die member 20 is mounted to the top surface 18 of pillar 14. The die member 20 is formed with a series of grooves 22, which correspond in spacing and size to the spacing and conductor sizes of the conductor ends 94 of cable 90. Die plate 20 is held to pillar 14 by means of a conventional screw 24 riding within an elongated slot 26, for finely adjusting die plate 20.

Cable terminals 94 are then placed in the grooves 22 of finely adjusted die plate 20, and the remainder of the right end portion 92 of cable is manually manipulated between a second die means formed by a combi nation of three metal blocks 30, 31, 32, affixed to said pillar 14. The metal blocks 30, 31, 32 form a slight depression corresponding to the remainder of the desired shape of right hand portion 92 of cable 90. The blocks 30, 31, 32 can be affixed to pillar 14 by conventional screws, by other conventional means.

The right hand portion 92 of cable 90 is then fixed in the desired position by suitable adhesive means, such as by brushing on a coat of VYNA-KOTE adhesive (made by Spectra-Strip Corporation of Garden Grove, California) when the conductor insulation is polyvinyl To this point, the cable 90 is still flat and essentially chloride. The right portion 92 is then clamped by a pair of clamps 34, 40, each of which are mounted to pillar l4 and by conventional means.

Clamp 34 is preferred to be a toggle clamp, e.g., of the type made by DE-STA-CO of Detroit, Michigan (Model 205), it being understood that clamps of many different types are usable in this invention. Clamp 34 is provided with a clamping or pressure plate 35 of a shape corresponding to the portion of the cable which is to be clamped so that the pressure exerted by clamp 34 will be applied directly on the cable portion 92, and positively prevent movement thereof during the subsequent twisting operation.

The second clamping means 40 is affixed to the side of pillar l4 and also preferably takes the form of a DE- STA-CO toggle clamp (Model 205) provided with a specially formed clamping block 42. When clamp 40 is placed in clamping position, as shown in FIG. 1, specially formed clamping block 42 is provided with surfaces 42a, 421; which retains cable area 92a of right portion 92 in fixed position immediately adjacent metal blocks 31, 32 during the subsequent twisting operation. The cable portion 92 is thus very stably clamped, in a precisely aligned position, by clamps 34, 40.

The pillar 16 is provided with a bore 48 through which is passed a generally cylindrical shaft 50.The longitudinal axis of shaft 50 is substantially horizontal and is mounted for rotatable motion within bore 48. A turning means or turning knob 54 having a bore 59 is slidably mounted onto shaft 50 and is affixed to the left end of shaft 50 by means of a conventional set screw means 55. The set screw 55 abuts a flattened shoulder 51 formed on shaft 50. (See FIG. 3). The shaft 50 is restrained from movement, along its longitudinal axis, by

a retaining ring or collar 56 mounted on the shaft 50 immediately adjacent to, and to the right of, pillar l6. Collar 56 is fixed to the shaft 50 by conventional set screw means 57, the set screw abutting flattened shoulder 51 of shaft 50.

A pair of clamping members 60, 62 are pivotally mounted at the right end of shaft 50, by means of conventional flat-headed screws 64. The pivot axis of clamping members 60, 62 lies along a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of shaft 50 and passing through screws 64.

Clamping members 60, 62 comprise conventional clamping jaws 66, 68 to which are attached handle extensions 70, 72, respectively. The jaws 66, 68 are spaced from the block 14 a predetermined distance, which distance is slightly greater than the length of portion 96 of cable 90 to be twisted.

The clamping jaws 66, 68 are normally urged towards each other by a coil spring 76, the coil spring passing through a transverse bore provided in shaft 50 and the ends of the coil spring being retained within cavities formed in handle extensions 70, 72 .of the clamping members 60, 62, respectively. Spring means 76 normally urges handle extensions 70, 72 apart around pivot 64 and thereby normally urges clamping jaws 66, 68 together. Clamping jaws 66, 68 are readily releasable to a non-clamping or open position by manually pressing handle extensions 70, 72, together.

The clamping jaws 66, 68 preferably have internal, gripping surfaces 77, 78 of rubber or other soft material to minimize damage to that portion of the cable 90 held therebetween.

An accurate indexing means for determining the exact number of half turns of the clamping members 60, 62 is provided. Pillar 16 carries a ball detent 80 comprising a spring loaded ball continually urged against the right hand surface 54a of turning knob 54. Turning knob 54 has a pair of diametrically opposed ball recesses 82, 82a. As the knob 54 is turned from the position shown in FIG. 2, the ball of the ball detent 80 is moved to the right against the ball detent spring by the right hand surface 54a of knob 54 and after precisely one half turn of knob 54 is made, the ball of the ball detent 80 will move, to the left, into recess 82a under the influence of the ball detent spring. As the ball of the ball detent drops in place in recess 82a, the operator can feel the seating of the ball in recess 82a and is aware that precisely one-half of a turn of the shaft 50 has been completed.

The number of ball recesses can be increased if a smaller fractional turn of shaft 50 is desired to be indicated. Other types of indexing means may be employed, such as a visual indexing system, but the ball detent system herein described is presently preferred.

In operation, the cable portion 92 is first stably clamped, in a precisely aligned position, by clamps 34, 40 as previously described. The clamping members 60, 62 are then indexed as shown at FIG. 2 in order to have an initial precise, reference point. Clamping jaws 66, 68 are then opened manually, and the cable is tautly extended with the left end of cable 90 being placed between the clamping jaws 66, 68. Manual pressure on the handles 70, 72 of clamping members 60, 62 is then released, and clamping jaws 66, 68 tightly clamp the left end of cable 90.

Precise, reproducible twisting of the non-clamped portion 96 of the cable 90 then takes place as the shaft 50 is rotated by manually turning knob 54 any given number of half-tums. The twist of the cable 90 may be retained, for example, by means of a coil spring (not shown) slipped over the left end of the cable 90 and wound fairly tightly around twisted portion 96 of cable 90.

Modifications of the preferred embodiments described may be employed which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. For example, different clamping means may be employed other than shown herein. For these reasons, we intend to bound only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for accurately twisting multiple conductors having first and second ends, which comprises:

a first clamping means for stably holding the first ends of said conductors;

a second clamping means spaced from said first clamping means, for holding said conductors at a point remote from said first ends, which comprises a pair of pivotally mounted clamping jaws, spring means normally urging said clamping jaws to a closed position, and handle means attached to said clamping jaws for manually disengaging said clamping jaws by exertion of manual pressure to overcome the force of said spring means;

means for rotating said second clamping means; and

indexing means associated with said second clamping means to thereby indicate the degree of rotation of said second clamping means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indexing means comprises a ball detent means and at least one ball recess associated with said second clamping means, said ball detent means automatically seating into one of said ball recesses as said second clamping means is rotated to thereby indicate the precise degree of turn of said second clamping means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes:

at least one die member having a configuration corresponding to the first ends of said conductors, said first clamping member being adapted to clamp said first ends of said conductors within said die member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 which includes means for finely adjusting said die member.

5. An apparatus for accurately twisting multiconductor cable having a first end and a second end, which comprises:

a die member having a configuration corresponding to said first end of said cable;

a first clamping means for clamping said first end of said cable within said die member;

a second clamping means, spaced from said first clamping means for holding said cable at a point remote from said first end, which comprises a pair of pivotally mounted clamping jaws, spring means normally urging said clamping jaws to a closed position, and handle means attached to said clamping jaws for manually disengaging said clamping jaws by exertion of manual pressure to overcome the force of said spring means;

means for rotating said second clamping means;

a ball detent means; and

at least one ball recess operatively associated with said means for rotating said second clamping means, said ball detent means automatically seating into one of said ball recesses as said second clamping means is rotated to thereby indicate the precise degree of turn of said second clamping means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 which includes means for finely adjusting said die member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises a pair of handles attached to said clamping jaws and said spring means are mounted between said pair of handles to normally urge said clamping jaws to their closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said handle means comprises a pair of handles attached to said clamping jaws and said spring means are mounted between said pair of handles to normally urge said clamping jaws to their closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which:

.said means for rotating said second clamping means includes a manually operable turning knob; and said indexing means comprises a plurality of ball recesses provided in an end surface of said turning knob and a ball detent means including a spring means continually urging the ball of said ball detent means against said end surface of said turning knob, said ball detent means automatically seating into one of said ball recesses as said second clamping means is rotated to thereby indicate the precise degree of turn of said second clamping means.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said'means for rotating said second clamping means includes a manually operable turning'knob'having an end surface, said ball recess being provided in said end'surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said end surface containing said ball recesses is a planar surface. 

1. An apparatus for accurately twisting multiple conductors having first and second ends, which comprises: a first clamping means for stably holding the first ends of said conductors; a second clamping means spaced from said first clamping means, for holding said conductors at a point remote from said first ends, which comprises a pair of pivotally mounted clamping jaws, spring means normally urging said clamping jaws to a closed position, and handle means attached to said clamping jaws for manually disengaging said clamping jaws by exertion of manual pressure to overcome the force of said spring means; means for rotating said second clamping means; and indexing means associated with said second clamping means to thereby indicate the degree of rotation of said second clamping means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indexing means comprises a ball detent means and at least one ball recess associated with said second clamping means, said ball detent means automatically seating into one of said ball recesses as said second clamping means is rotated to thereby indicate the precise degree of turn of said second clamping means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes: at least one die member having a configuration corresponding to the first ends of said conductors, said first clamping member being adapted to clamp said first ends of said conductors within said die member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 which includes means for finely adjusting said die member.
 5. An apparatus for accurately twisting multi-conductor cable having a first end and a secOnd end, which comprises: a die member having a configuration corresponding to said first end of said cable; a first clamping means for clamping said first end of said cable within said die member; a second clamping means, spaced from said first clamping means for holding said cable at a point remote from said first end, which comprises a pair of pivotally mounted clamping jaws, spring means normally urging said clamping jaws to a closed position, and handle means attached to said clamping jaws for manually disengaging said clamping jaws by exertion of manual pressure to overcome the force of said spring means; means for rotating said second clamping means; a ball detent means; and at least one ball recess operatively associated with said means for rotating said second clamping means, said ball detent means automatically seating into one of said ball recesses as said second clamping means is rotated to thereby indicate the precise degree of turn of said second clamping means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 which includes means for finely adjusting said die member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises a pair of handles attached to said clamping jaws and said spring means are mounted between said pair of handles to normally urge said clamping jaws to their closed position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said handle means comprises a pair of handles attached to said clamping jaws and said spring means are mounted between said pair of handles to normally urge said clamping jaws to their closed position.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which: said means for rotating said second clamping means includes a manually operable turning knob; and said indexing means comprises a plurality of ball recesses provided in an end surface of said turning knob and a ball detent means including a spring means continually urging the ball of said ball detent means against said end surface of said turning knob, said ball detent means automatically seating into one of said ball recesses as said second clamping means is rotated to thereby indicate the precise degree of turn of said second clamping means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said second clamping means includes a manually operable turning knob having an end surface, said ball recess being provided in said end surface.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said end surface containing said ball recesses is a planar surface. 